Fishing for smallmouth bass in the fall is an often-overlooked opportunity, but it can be one of the most rewarding times of the year to catch these aggressive fish. As water temperatures drop, smallmouth bass shift their habits, and knowing where to find them and how to target them is key to success. This guide provides insights on where to look for smallmouth in the fall and the techniques that can help land a trophy-sized fish.
The Behavior of Smallmouth Bass in Fall
In summer, smallmouth bass are typically found in shallow water near weed beds, boat docks, and rocky shoals. But as fall approaches and water temperatures begin to drop, these fish start preparing for the colder months. They move away from their summer homes to deeper water and become more aggressive feeders, seeking to bulk up before winter.
Smallmouth bass in the fall often lose their wariness, especially as they hunt for food to sustain them through the leaner winter months. This can make the fall season an ideal time to target the largest smallmouth in a body of water. Knowing how to adjust tactics and where to fish during this transitional period can lead to memorable catches.
Fishing Soft Plastics and Flies in Early Fall
In early autumn, when water temperatures hover in the mid-60s, smallmouth bass typically begin to patrol deeper waters. Rocky points, steep banks, and drop-offs where shallow and deep waters meet are prime locations for finding these fish. Smallmouths in these areas are often hunting for crayfish, leeches, and other prey that dwell near the bottom.
For anglers using soft plastics, jig heads paired with creature baits like the Craw Papi or Jumbo Leech can be highly effective. It’s important to let the bait sink to the bottom and retrieve it with sharp, pulsing lifts, allowing the bait to stir up sediment and imitate prey scurrying along the lake bed. This action can attract bass from a distance and trigger aggressive strikes.
For fly anglers, small weighted streamers like Clouser Minnows and Conehead Wooly Buggers work well in these deeper zones. Casting the fly along rocky drop-offs and retrieving it with short, sharp strips can entice a strike from a lurking smallmouth.
Late Fall Strategies with Jerkbaits and Spinners
As water temperatures fall below 60 degrees later in the season, smallmouth bass shift once again, moving further from structure into deeper, open water. During this time, they begin focusing on suspended schools of baitfish, such as minnows and shad, making it more challenging to locate them.
Using electronics to track baitfish schools can greatly improve the odds of finding smallmouth in these conditions. Even without electronics, surface activity can be a giveaway. Schools of baitfish often rise to the surface on sunny days, and smallmouth bass are never far behind, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Covering water becomes crucial in late fall. Jerkbaits like the Husky Jerk or X-Rap can be worked slowly through the water to entice bites from smallmouths patrolling baitfish schools. Inline spinners, such as the Blue Fox Vibrax and Panther Martin, are also excellent choices. Their subtle flash and vibration mimic small, isolated baitfish, making them irresistible to hungry smallmouths.
Fall Smallmouth Tips from the Pros
Bassmaster Elite pro Seth Feider offers some additional insight into targeting fall smallmouth bass. He emphasizes the importance of areas that offer quick access between deep and shallow water. These transitional zones provide smallmouth with the ability to move up and down the water column depending on temperature changes, ensuring they remain comfortable and well-fed.
Feider also notes that larger baits often lead to larger catches, especially during the fall feeding frenzy. Smallmouth bass are not shy about targeting large prey, such as tullibees and yellow perch, as they aim to pack on as much weight as possible before winter. This makes fall the perfect time to experiment with bigger baits for a chance at catching a trophy smallmouth.
Fishing for smallmouth bass in the fall can be highly productive, especially with the right tactics and an understanding of how these fish behave during this transitional period. Whether using soft plastics, jerkbaits, flies, or spinners, the fall season presents anglers with a prime opportunity to land some of the biggest smallmouth of the year.
Image/Source: OutdoorLife
